Hennink Monique M, Ingles Donna J, Mmbaga Blandina T, Prabhakaran Dorairaj, Heimburger Douglas C, Johnson Leslie C M
Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Dec 10;112(3):699-708. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0381. Print 2025 Mar 5.
Qualitative research methods are central to understanding many public health problems. However, capacity building for qualitative research is globally skewed toward high-income countries, with a significant skills deficit in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To address this imbalance and provide a model program, we developed the Qualitative Research Leaders (QRL) program, a pipeline program to increase qualitative research capacity in LMIC institutions and foster leadership in qualitative research. The QRL program is a collaboration between Emory University and Vanderbilt University in the United States and two LMIC institutions Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College in Tanzania and the Public Health Foundation of India. The program had five phases conducted over 12 months: 1) mentored study design sessions, 2) an in-country skill-building workshop, 3) mentored proposal development sessions, 4) a residential grant writing program in the United States, and 5) mentor matching for field implementation. Program evaluation results showed that the QRL program was effectively designed, and scholars valued the program components, learning formats, and session content. The program increased scholars' knowledge, skills, and confidence as mentors in qualitative research. Furthermore, scholars demonstrated leadership in initiating postprogram research, mentoring, and teaching in qualitative research. Overall, scholars felt that the program could be extended to enable more time to internalize new knowledge and develop skills, and the role of in-country mentors could be expanded to further support scholars during fieldwork. In this article, we describe the components of the QRL program and its implementation, results of our program evaluation, and lessons learned for developing similar pipeline training programs.
定性研究方法是理解许多公共卫生问题的核心。然而，定性研究的能力建设在全球范围内偏向高收入国家，中低收入国家存在显著的技能短缺。为了解决这种不平衡并提供一个示范项目，我们开发了定性研究领导者（QRL）项目，这是一个旨在提高中低收入国家机构定性研究能力并培养定性研究领导力的输送项目。QRL项目是美国埃默里大学和范德比尔特大学与两个中低收入国家机构——坦桑尼亚的乞力马扎罗基督教医学院和印度公共卫生基金会之间的合作项目。该项目在12个月内分五个阶段进行：1）有导师指导的研究设计课程；2）国内技能培训工作坊；3）有导师指导的提案撰写课程；4）在美国的住宿式资助申请项目；5）为实地实施进行导师匹配。项目评估结果表明，QRL项目设计有效，学者们重视项目组成部分、学习形式和课程内容。该项目增加了学者们作为定性研究导师的知识、技能和信心。此外，学者们在启动项目后的研究、指导和定性研究教学方面展现出了领导力。总体而言，学者们认为该项目可以延长，以便有更多时间吸收新知识和培养技能，并且国内导师的作用可以扩大，以便在实地工作期间进一步支持学者。在本文中，我们描述了QRL项目的组成部分及其实施情况、项目评估结果，以及开发类似输送培训项目所吸取的经验教训。
